* Vietnam - Malaysia: 7 p.m. on tuesday 31/3, on VnExpress.

After former Malaysian national team coaches such as Rajagobal and Dollah Salleh stated that the visiting team was stronger at Thien Truong, the Finnish-Malaysian midfielder echoed their sentiments. "The upcoming match will be very difficult as we play away against Vietnam. However, we have a very strong squad and are capable of winning," Laine said ahead of the match in Nam Dinh.

Midfielder Nooa Laine at Noi Bai airport, Ha Noi on the evening of 28/3. Photo: FAM

Born in Finland in 2002, Laine played 64 matches in the Finnish national league before joining Selangor in Malaysia. He has played 17 matches for the Malaysian national team since 2023, capable of playing as a center-back or central midfielder. The 23-year-old affirmed that the goal of winning remains unchanged, regardless of the team's circumstances. "Every time I step onto the field, I want to win. This is a big responsibility when wearing the national team jersey, and I will try my hardest," he added.

Laine's statement reflects Malaysia's determination, even though the team no longer has a chance to qualify for the Asian Cup 2027. Previously, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) nullified Malaysia's two victories against Nepal and Vietnam due to the use of ineligible players, and deducted six points. This decision caused the "Malayan Tigers" to lose their top spot in Group F, thereby handing the direct qualification slot to Vietnam.

The match at Thien Truong stadium holds more significance for honor than for points for coach Peter Cklamovski's team. Malaysian experts view this as an opportunity for the national team to redeem themselves and conclude the qualifying campaign positively.

Former national player Razman Roslan urged the players to put aside criticisms related to the document fraud scandal and focus on their performance. "Malaysia needs to regain its honor and seek revenge when facing Vietnam, because the previous head-to-head results between the two teams were nullified," he said.

Coach Peter Cklamovski observes his players training on the morning of 29/3. Photo: FAM

Despite missing some key players, Malaysia has maintained the core squad that surprised many at the most recent Asian Cup, where they held South Korea to a 3-3 draw. Additionally, they have added new naturalized players. This provides coach Cklamovski with 10 mixed-heritage players and three who do not have Malaysian roots.

Within the current squad, Laine is a standout player. He has participated in every match under coach Cklamovski since early 2025. At the club level, this defensive midfielder has also played 39 matches, demonstrating a high level of physical fitness and consistency.

To prepare for the match against Vietnam, Malaysia trained in Bangkok last week before traveling to Ha Noi on the evening of 28/3. Laine praised the team's preparation process: "We had a very good training period. The pitches and conditions are all good, the whole team is ready."

Conversely, Vietnam enters the match with a relaxed mindset, having already secured a spot in the Asian Cup 2027. The host team also recently defeated Bangladesh 3-0 in a friendly match at Hang Day stadium on the evening of 26/3. Naturalized midfielder Do Hoang Hen is expected to bolster the national team's attacking prowess.

Nonetheless, Malaysia has grounds for confidence. In their most recent encounter in 6/2025, they defeated Vietnam 4-0, although the result was later nullified. The question remains how Malaysia's strength will be affected without the 7 naturalized players involved in the fraudulent documents.

The match has also garnered significant interest from Malaysian fans. The country's Ministry of Youth and Sports has installed large screens at 15 locations nationwide to cheer for the national team, showcasing the appeal and expectations for Cklamovski's team.

Hoang An compiled